Marmot country: Over the years, these fat, furry rodents have developed a taste for radiator hoses, brake lines and car wiring. Vehicles with coolant leaks are especially susceptible. To discourage marmots, some visitors wrap their cars in tarps or chicken wire; others leave their hoods open.

(Note: Mineral King Road typically closes from Nov. 1 until Memorial Day, weather permitting. Due to steepness, RVs and trailers are strongly discouraged.)

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With the roar of burning propane sounding off inches above my head, the ground below me slowly sunk farther away. Oddly, there was no jarring shake to accompany a relatively quick ascent into the sky. There was no turbulence – not even wiggle from the light breeze. It was just the heat radiating from the nearby flame, the dry coolness of early morning mountain air, and, in between the periodic roar of ignited fuel, absolute silence.